Jan Johnson says you can pray while you work.
Sounds impossible, doesn't it? But what she says makes sense.
I must say that I have been letting other things draw me away from prayer the last little while. Some are laudable reasons, others basically time-wasting.
Johnson, author of Enjoying the Presence of God, says that she realized years ago that she would end a frantic business day without spending time with God.
"Sure I bellowed out a breath prayer now and then, but I missed God's abiding presence, something I'd learned to enjoy."
Yet she knew other Christians over the ages made time to pray while they worked. One such person was Brother Lawrence, a 17th century French monk who conversed with God while he was working in the monastery kitchen.
Johnson tried various techniques to bring her mind back to God, including a candle in her workplace. She would look at the candle and it would prompt her to pray.
Not everyone is able - or would wish - to try the candle idea. But we can use other visual reminders.
When Johnson looked at the candle, she would murmur "thank you" as she remembered she had an income.
As you are reminded to talk with God, you can bring before him the project you are working on. Or, you can simply praise him for who he is and what he has done in your life. These are life-giving prayers.
"Busywork - formatting computer disks, mowing the lawn, cleaning the carpet - invites another level of thinking in which we contemplate the words, wisdom and challenges of others."
As we think about God, we may find that a "comment on the telephone five minutes ago provides an answer that [we] asked God earlier in the day".
"By respecting the rhythm of prayer and work," Johnson says, "we create moments for the still, small voice of God to become clear."
She refers to comments by hospital chaplain Ernest Boyer, Jr., who recommends we stop for a couple of minutes before starting any task and remind ourselves that we "delight God in a thousand and one ways".
"Try to feel this great love toward you so that when you begin your work you make it a response to that love."
Johnson also suggests repeating short prayers such as "God loves me", "I delight in you, God", or "this task is for you, God". When you finish the task, take a moment to enjoy completing the work and offer it to the Lord.
She adds that we should invite God into the "chatter" in our heads and turn the complaints, worries, memories and questions into prayers.
Just thinking about Johnson's ideas helps me see that my work would go much more smoothly and with less strain if I talked with God while I was doing it.
"Nothing that we do is too ordinary or too boring for God," writes Johnson. "He delights in us not because we are entertaining, but because we are his."
Sounds impossible, doesn't it? But what she says makes sense.
I must say that I have been letting other things draw me away from prayer the last little while. Some are laudable reasons, others basically time-wasting.
Johnson, author of Enjoying the Presence of God, says that she realized years ago that she would end a frantic business day without spending time with God.
"Sure I bellowed out a breath prayer now and then, but I missed God's abiding presence, something I'd learned to enjoy."
Yet she knew other Christians over the ages made time to pray while they worked. One such person was Brother Lawrence, a 17th century French monk who conversed with God while he was working in the monastery kitchen.
Johnson tried various techniques to bring her mind back to God, including a candle in her workplace. She would look at the candle and it would prompt her to pray.
Not everyone is able - or would wish - to try the candle idea. But we can use other visual reminders.
When Johnson looked at the candle, she would murmur "thank you" as she remembered she had an income.
As you are reminded to talk with God, you can bring before him the project you are working on. Or, you can simply praise him for who he is and what he has done in your life. These are life-giving prayers.
"Busywork - formatting computer disks, mowing the lawn, cleaning the carpet - invites another level of thinking in which we contemplate the words, wisdom and challenges of others."
As we think about God, we may find that a "comment on the telephone five minutes ago provides an answer that [we] asked God earlier in the day".
"By respecting the rhythm of prayer and work," Johnson says, "we create moments for the still, small voice of God to become clear."
She refers to comments by hospital chaplain Ernest Boyer, Jr., who recommends we stop for a couple of minutes before starting any task and remind ourselves that we "delight God in a thousand and one ways".
"Try to feel this great love toward you so that when you begin your work you make it a response to that love."
Johnson also suggests repeating short prayers such as "God loves me", "I delight in you, God", or "this task is for you, God". When you finish the task, take a moment to enjoy completing the work and offer it to the Lord.
She adds that we should invite God into the "chatter" in our heads and turn the complaints, worries, memories and questions into prayers.
Just thinking about Johnson's ideas helps me see that my work would go much more smoothly and with less strain if I talked with God while I was doing it.
"Nothing that we do is too ordinary or too boring for God," writes Johnson. "He delights in us not because we are entertaining, but because we are his."
No comments:
Post a Comment